Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson Charley Pride Biopic

The Rock’s going country! Variety reports that WWE superstar and Fast Five star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has been tipped to produce and star in a biopic of trailblazing country music star Charley Pride.

Pride first made a splash on the country scene in the 1960s and went on to become one of the genre’s most successful Black performers. He’s sold more than 70 million records worldwide and remains the only African-American singer to be inducted into the prestigious Grand Ole Opry.

Pride confirmed the news in an interview with Canada’s Telegraph-Journal last week: “(It) got fumbled… New management took over the studio that was ready to begin site work on it… And a decision was made to put all their resources behind thrillers – fast actioners (sic). They felt that was where the big box office money was then…”

Terrence Howard had originally been slated to play Pride in the film, but he dropped after production stalled. Pride has also since given Rocky his full backing, after initially having doubts about his ability to tackle the part, the first dramatic role of his career.

“Now it’s back on track again but with action and comedy star Dwayne Johnson portraying me in the title role… Terrence, it seems, is tied up on other involvements for a few years…Terrence is no doubt a more in-depth actor academically, but Dwayne is such a force on screen. It startled me a little at first, but he flew down to Dallas and spent a day with me just sitting, talking recently. And when he left it was like parting with an old friend. We had such similar views on so many things.”